Okanagan’s unemployment rate rose in April

May 9, 2025 | 10:24 AM

April saw the regional unemployment rate increase.

Statistics Canada said the Thompson-Okanagan economic region, which includes Vernon, had an unadjusted unemployment rate of 6.4 per cent in the latest reporting month.

That was up fromt he rate of 6.1 per cent recorded in March, and also up from the 5.7 per cent rate in April of 2024.

The regional unadjusted employment rate meanwhile was 53.0 per cent in April.

That was up from March’s figure of 52.5 per cent employed, however, was down from the rate of 55.1 per cent recorded in the same month the year before.

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StatsCan added the Thompson-Okanagan’s participation rate, or the percentage of the population within working age, was 56.6 per cent in April, up from the rate of 55.9 per cent the month prior.

StatsCan did not provide specific details for Vernon’s labour force, but did have figures for Kelowna.

In the Central Okanagan city’s adjusted unemployment rate increased from 5.8 per cent in March to 6.9 per cent in April.

Meanwhile, Kelowna’s adjusted employment rate declined to 51.1 per cent in April from the rate of 52.3 per cent the month before.

Kelowna’s participation rate also fell to 54.9 per cent in April after being recorded at 55.6 per cent in March.

Provincially, B.C. had an adjusted unemployment rate of 6.2 per cent, an employment rate of 61.1 per cent, and a participation rate of 65.0 per cent in April.

Comparatively, B.C.’s rates in March were recorded at 6.1 per cent unemployed, 61.1 per cent employed, and 65.1 per cent participating in the workforce.

StatsCan’s figures did show B.C. had the fourth lowest unemployment rate of any province after Saskatchewan (4.3), Manitoba (5.3), Quebec (6.0).

“[The] Labour Force Survey data for April shows that B.C. held steady wit a small gain of 6,000 jobs, compared to last month. So far this year, B.C. has gained 51,300 full-time jobs, the highest increase among provinces,” Diana Gibson, B.C.’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, stated in a release.

“In April, private-sector employment increased by 1,600 and self-employment increased by 2,800. Since July 2017, B.C. has gained 174,400 private-sector jobs, and so far this year, we have the second-highest increase in private-sector employment across the country at 5,800 jobs.”

Gibson added youth employment increased in April, and the average hourly wage was recorded at $38.24, which was up 4.8 per cent when compared to the same month in 2024.

B.C.’s labour force figures were also better than the national figures.

StatsCan reported Canada as a whole as having an adjusted unemployment rate of 6.9 per cent, and an employment rate of 60.8 per cent in April.

In March, the national unemployment rate was 6.7 per cent and employment was 60.9 per cent.

StatsCan said the national declines were mainly attributed to employment among core aged-women dropping, and declines in manufacturing and in wholesale and retail trade.

by Liam Verster

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